5 most hard-hitting predictions for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega at UFC 266

The featherweight title clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega will headline UFC 266. The marquee pay-per-view event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 25, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

After spending a few weeks as opposing coaches in the returning reality show The Ultimate Fighter (TUF 29), Volkanovski and Ortega will finally come to blows. The matchup was originally slotted into the co-main event slot of UFC 260 but was postponed after the champ contracted COVID-19.

Volkanovski and Ortega have had one another inside their minds for a long time due to several weeks of delay in their meeting. The rivalry heated up when the two engaged in an intense staredown during the UFC 266 pre-fight press conference.

Needless to say, the featherweight championship matchup has the MMA community abuzz. Ahead of UFC 266, let's take a look at the most heavy-hitting predictions for Saturday night's main event title clash.

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#5. Former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy

Dan Hardy predicts Alexander Volkanovski vs Brian Ortega[Image Credit: @danhardymma on Instagram]

Combat sports analyst extraordinaire Dan Hardy believes three people are at the top of the UFC featherweight division. They are – reigning champ Alexander Volkanovski, number-one contender Brian Ortega and former titleholder Max Holloway.

Hardy believes the three top stars present a rock, paper, scissors scenario for each other. Volkanovski has already beaten Holloway twice, while the Hawaii native has thoroughly dismantled Ortega before.

With that in mind, Hardy believes Brian Ortega has a tremendous skillset that matches up well with the champion's tendencies. In an interview with Submission Radio, Hardy provided a detailed breakdown and prediction of the UFC 266 main event.

"With the threats that Ortega brings to the table, those knees to the centerline, the uppercut, the knees and elbows in close range, as well as the guillotines and his ability to transition on the floor, I think there are a lot more traps for Volkanovski to fall into for this one. I think [Volkanovski] should win but I'm actually leaning towards Ortega at this point. I think he might be able to steamroll him into a knee and then catch him with a guillotine or something. It's gonna be one of those flash moments where Ortega's technique just shines through."

Official UFC 266 pick: Brian Ortega

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#4. UFC featherweight Danny Chavez

Danny Chavez predicts Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega [Photo via @dwarrior875 on IG]

UFC featherweight Danny Chavez will be tuning in to UFC 266 to watch Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega, the two top dogs in his division, battle it out for the title. Ahead of the pay-per-view, 'The Colombian Warrior' caught up with Sportskeeda MMA to reveal his pick for the Alexander Volkanovksi vs. Brian Ortega championship bout. He said:

"I'll be honest. Anything is possible in MMA. Anything. I think in combat sports, the biggest upsets have been in MMA. I think boxing is a little safer," stated Danny Chavez. "In MMA, anything could happen. But I believe Alexander will come on top. I think Brian Ortega does really well with people that have okay footwork, and that's not Alexander. He moves a lot. He's all over the cage... I just think Alexander's a smart fighter, and I always go with the brains over anything... I'll go with Alexander."

Official UFC 266 pick: Alexander Volkanovski

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#3. UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze

Giga Chikadze predicts Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega

Fast-rising UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze is torn between picking Alexander Volkanovski or Brian Ortega. According to the Georgian striking whiz, Ortega's previous performance against 'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung convinced him that 'T-City' had drastically evolved since the Holloway fight.

Ortega's deficiencies in the striking department were exposed by Holloway at UFC 231. But 'T-City' immediately bounced back with an impressive wire-to-wire win against Jung at UFC Fight Night 180.

Chikadze, who's a few wins away from challenging for the 145-pound strap himself, believes Alexander Volkanovski should still be the favorite. However, Chikadze added that a Brian Ortega victory would not surprise him one bit. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chikadze said:

"At least both of them are shorter guys, you know, strong style. If I wouldn't see Brian's last performance, I would definitely give this fight to Volkanovski. But we've seen how Brian progressed, we've seen his boxing. So his strategy was very good when he fought Zombie and I don't know man, it's a very tough one. I still having Volk in this fight but I will not be surprised if Brian gets the job done."

Official UFC 266 pick: Alexander Volkanovski

#2. UFC featherweight contender 'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung

Chan Sung Jung predicts Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega

'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung is no stranger to Brian Ortega. The South Korean MMA star witnessed Ortega's improvement first-hand when they squared off at UFC Fight Night 180 last October.

Jung was also of the belief that Volkanovski would easily run through the 30-year-old title challenger. But after duking it out with Ortega for five rounds, Jung now believes 'T-City' has what it takes to walk away from UFC 266 with the featherweight title around his waist. In an interview with The Schmo, Jung said through a translator:

"He thought before that Volkanovski would've won easily but now he's kind of looking at it that Ortega has a good chance. The switching stance, the leg kicks will probably do a little bit of damage. He doesn't think Volkanovski will be able to take him down easily, so he thinks it's going to be a good competitive fight."

Official UFC 266 pick: Brian Ortega

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#1. Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping predicts Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega

Former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping believes the fight will be decided on the feet. With that in mind, 'The Count' believes the superior striker, Volkanovski, has the advantage at UFC 266.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Bisping gave a breakdown of how he believes Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega will play out. The British MMA star said:

"This fight's gonna play out on the feet. I don't think Brian Ortega has the wrestling to take down Volkanovski. Volkanovski's takedown defense has been fantastic so far... So it's gonna play out on the feet... History shows that out of that matchup Alexander Volkanovski probably wins... I might be wrong but I have Alexander Volkanovski winning this fight via decision."

Bisping added that the time the competitors spent together during the filming of TUF 29 will only add to their disdain for each other. Bisping, who had participated in TUF as a contestant and a coach, said:

"They did The Ultimate Fighter together. Let me tell you, I've coached that twice, I was on there as a contestant. You do grow to hate your co-coach... Because you're around each other, every single day. And they start doing something that annoys you."

Official UFC 266 pick: Alexander Volkanovski